A few years back I wanted to grow a garden on our 5 acres to teach our kids about how to care for things, how to clear out the weeds so plants could grow up stronger… to show them how something you worked hard for, you cultivated, and nurtured would produce what you planted.
So I was off!
I purchased the seeds, bought extra nutrients to add to the soil, plotted out the size needed for the items we were planting, rented a sod remover, tilled the land to prepare for the seeds, cultivated the soil with those extra nutrients…. and then you got it…
I never planted the seeds! Literally a large expense gone, major labor and back breaking hard work – ultimately for no result.
Well, if anyone knows me at all, they know I don’t have a green thumb. I have even had friends try to help me with my green thumb challenged life and they have brought their off shoots of plants to my house… to die. Not over a period of time, like instantly. I gave “The Killing Fields” a new name!
The concept of planting is simple. The obvious is preparing the ground to receive the seed, cultivating the ground, watering the seed and protecting it from nature or animals to eventually seeing that seed blossom into your harvest.
25 years ago, my “boyfriends” sister-in-law, Robin, received my name in the family Christmas drawing. Yes, only 17 yrs old, my relationship with Keith was obvious and I was included as family. The amount to spend was $20… but she spent more. In addition to my gift, she purchased for me a book, about a young girl that felt all alone and then how she found God. At the time, I was like… thanks! But months later, there came a night when I felt the weight of the world, and coincidentally I was all alone… I thought of that book, I picked it up and read it.
It changed my life.
Robin, planted a seed. A very small seed at the time, but still a seed. Once I read the book, recognized that I needed God, I knew that Robin was just the person I could talk to. It’s because of her seed planted that Keith and I are here today, and serving God.
Everyday you have an opportunity to speak into people’s lives. To be a good listener or a shoulder to cry on. Or quite simply just encouraging someone with a nice word or a smile. People are hurting, and most don’t know where to turn. Some turn to the wrong things, but others seek diligently because they earnestly want positive change in their life.
Don’t take for granted the people that have come into your life; for such a time as this. You may be getting “set-up” by divine order – and the seed(s) you plant may change someone’s life forever!
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